KINIBIZ As an unprecedented crackdown on corruption unfolds in Sarawak, there is a sense of deja vu given inevitable comparisons between new chief minister Adenan Satem and fifth prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Both took over from decades-long reign of respective predecessors. Both have marked their early days in power with eye-catching progress against power abuse and corrupt practices.

What remains to be seen however is whether Adenan can stay the course where Abdullah, affectionately known to Malaysians as Pak Lah, could not.

Pak Lah’s war on corruption

Like Adenan, Abdullah seemed a breath of fresh air when he became prime minister on Oct 31, 2003, succeeding Dr Mahathir Mohamad who was in power for 22 years. However, he ended up a casualty of the expectations he set.

Starting out, Abdullah was an instant hit with Malaysians. And his hit song was his administration’s public campaign against corruption, which followed longstanding criticism of the same plaguing various facets of government during his predecessor’s time in office.

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This article was written by Khairie Hisyam.